Hearing the Gospel

Introduction

As we have been working our way through the letter to the assembly in Rome, we have heard Paul talk about salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. He desires to enlist the church a Rome as a partner in his task in bringing about the obedience of faith to all.

He has spent a great deal of pages making sure that they understand the gospel.

But the gospel is not just for the Gentiles; it is for the Jews as well.

It serves us well to hearken back to the objection he is laboring to answer: “Has God’s word to Israel failed?” (see Rom. 9:6).

His answer is No! All Israel has to do to regain the blessings of her heritage is believe—“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

Paul outlines for the believers in Rome how God saves people. It is not through the evidence of his handiwork in creation (Rom. 1:20). It is not through works or the law (Rom. 9:32). Rather, it is through the preaching of the gospel.

Romans 10:14-21

Romans 10:14–21 CSB

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. 18 But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 19 But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. 20 And Isaiah says boldly, I was found by those who were not looking for me; I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me. 21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.

The Vehicle of the Gospel is Proclamation

Calling out to God requires faith. In the Old Testament, calling on the man of the Lord was a metaphor for worship and prayer. (Gen. 4:26; 12:8; Ps. 116:4). No one can call out to God who has not believed in him.

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

More than anything else, this question is the crux of all missiological activity since the first century.

God has ordained that people have to hear (or read, or otherwise understand the content of) the word of God in order to be saved.

One who knows the gospel must communicate it to one who does not know it.

Did you hear that. the gospel must be communicated to those who don’t believe it they are to believe. The mission is the heart of Paul’s work and writings. If you take that away you miss what Paul is saying.

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? The Greek word there is herald to them. The Job of a herald is to proclaim the words of the King. The Gospel.

In Paul’s time there was no such things as books and Social media. In the media-rich day in which we minister, has anything replaced preaching as the most effective way to communicate the gospel?

We thank God for the printed page, and even for cutting-edge presentations of the gospel circling the globe on the internet.

But it is still the human voice that cracks with passion, the human eye that wells with tears of gratitude, and the human frame that shuffles to the podium, bent from a lifetime of Service to the gospel, that reaches the needy human heart most readily.

Hearing may not require preaching in person today, but it always benefits from it.

And Heralds must be sent.

Even when his servants were unwilling (e.g., Jonah), God has been sending the message of salvation to the ends of the earth from the beginning.

Paul, a “sent one” (apostle, apostolos), was sent to the Gentiles, and he needed the church at Rome to help him.

But he also wanted them to be available for God to send them.

There were many, many Jews in Rome who were still stumbling over the stone in the path of salvation. How would they ever call on the name of the Lord unless someone is sent?

Paul wants the church at Rome to get in step with those who have borne good news to Israel before.

As it is written the people who bring the good news. This is a text from Isaiah in which proclaims the good news of Israels deliverance from Captivity in Assyria.

Paul says It is a different gospel—a better one—of permanent deliverance from captivity to sin.

Personal Responsibility

Unbelief is the result of the choice not to believe.

With a final barrage of scriptures from the Old Testament, Paul proves his point that, in spite of God’s desires and prompting and sending, Israel is in a state of unbelief by her own choice.

Personal responsibility is part of the ministry of the gospel, both in delivering it and in choosing whether or not to receive it.

God’s responsibility was to get “the gospel” to Israel; it was Israel’s responsibility to act on it.

Unfortunately, not all the Israelites accepted the good news.

Even though the Israelites saw Jesus’ miracles with their own eyes, “they still would not believe in him” (John 12:37).

John 12:37 CSB

37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.

John then says this was in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1, just as Paul did.

And despite all of that, in the face of all that, God is still constantly reaching out to Israel and to the Gentiles.

The downtrodden in Israel and Gentiles without spiritual understanding, were the very ones who were finding their way into the kingdom of God by faith in Christ. All the while, Paul’s heart, reflecting the heart of God, was breaking over the unbelief of God’s chosen people.

Hearing the Gospel: Next Steps

Israel’s present state of unbelief is due to her lack of acceptance of the good news of salvation by faith.

Is Your’s?

Have you heard the Gospel. I don’t mean that you listened to me give it have you heard it.

Hearing is about listening, and reacting to the truth that is the Gospel of Jesus

Have you ABC

As royal priest have you Proclaimed the Gospel.

Are your feet beautiful.

Bibliography

Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Vol. 6 of Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Questions for Further Discussion

In what way does Paul emphasize the importance of proclaiming the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles in his letter to the believers in Rome?

According to Romans 10:14-21, what is the significance of preaching the gospel in the mission of leading people to salvation?

How does the concept of being a herald of the gospel apply to believers in today's media-rich society?

What can we learn from Paul's example of being a 'sent one' (apostle) and how it relates to our role in sharing the gospel with others?

How does the idea of personal responsibility in receiving the gospel challenge and inspire you to actively engage in sharing the good news with others in your daily life?

Why is it important for believers to understand the significance of proclaiming the gospel, according to the teachings in Romans 10:14-21?

How does the analogy of a herald proclaiming the words of a king relate to the role of sharing the gospel in today's society, especially with advancements in communication technology?

In what ways can you apply the concept of being 'sent' by God to share the gospel in your interactions with friends, family, and the community around you?

Reflect on how the theme of personal responsibility in responding to the gospel message can influence your own faith journey and your attitude towards sharing the good news with others.

How can you practically incorporate the lessons on proclaiming the gospel and taking personal responsibility in spreading the message of salvation into your daily life and relationships?

Why is it important for everyone to hear the message of the gospel according to the teachings in Romans 10:14-21?

What does it mean to be a herald of the gospel like Paul, and how can children also share the good news with others in their own unique way?

How can children be 'sent' by God to share the gospel message with their friends, classmates, and family members?

Discuss the idea of personal responsibility in choosing to believe in the gospel and how children can make decisions to follow Jesus and share His love with others.

What are some practical ways children can share the good news of Jesus with others around them, such as through acts of kindness, sharing Bible stories, or inviting friends to church events?